BiffFromCP

I believe the wings will make a point of finishing checks against Regehr to see if his knee can hold up. I believe the Flames will likewise make a point of finishing checks against Lids, Hank, and Bert to see if they can stand up to the physical toll. It's not deliberate attempt to injure. It's not disrespect. It's exploiting an opportunity to try to gain an advantage. It happens in boxing, football, tennis, and countless other sports. The physical capacity of your opponnent is a legitimate point of contention. Also, is it not okay to look at your opponent and point to things you hope to exploit? Do you think the Wings aren't reviewing game film, looking at trends, and watching for things to exploit? If they talk about possible weaknesses on the Flames is it talking trash? I may be wrong, but I think both teams are probably going to try to beat each other. Talking about how should be expected. Fans speculating along the same lines will probably happen too. Why are some people getting so bent out of shape about this?

Hmmm....well at least our playoff games are sold out. Bandwagoners? Yup....we've got 'em. So do the wings. All Canadian hockey fans are overrated, ignorant and bandwagon juumpers? Generalize much? Our regular season record may make us under-achievers but I'm not sure you should be crowing over the incredible post-season achievements your successive conference / league regular season titles have earned you. I guess this is why we'll go ahead and play the games over the next couple of weeks.

For what its worth, there's a difference between respecting a players past accomplishments and wondering if he is still up to the same standard. Flames fans, in my experience, aren't dissing Dom's stellar career and exemplary achievements (who could?) but we are hoping, and maybe expecting, that at 42 he may have lost a step or two. Some of us do think age may be a factor in this series....I don't think it means we think all of the Wings vets are garbage. We did, however, think Hatcher was garbage.

Okay,....everybody back AWAY from the 70's cartoon superhero. We can ALL be underdogs! Edmonton and Toronto are the favorites. Silly board people!

I figure this one to go 6 or 7. I don't think either team is likely to fold. We (Flames) could....but probably won't. That's the enigma with the Flames.....consistency. They play some games, or even stretches of games, like world beaters and look very very tough to play against. Then they play a game, or games, where they look positively ordinary. The wings have consistency in their favor. The physical play is far more even this time around than in '04...but the talent gap is also a whole lot closer. Dats and Hank may give us fits....but you won't like Tangs and Juice (Huselius) much either. This one should be a gooder....unless we get embarassed and spanked in 4. I'll say Flames in 6 with a split in the first two and then a W, W, L, W from there.

Quick "Hello" to the LGW crew. Here's to a great series. Hopefully we're both fully healthy by Friday. For those who remember, no, I do not intend to start another BattleOfAlberta catfight like last year. I will not mention at all, even once, that Edmonton sucks. I will, however, repeat that I think the Red Wings organization and their fanbase are a good thing...and you're welcome for us staying ahead of the Avs.